10. In the “Cento Novelle Antiche,” the story is told of a mule, which pretends that his name is written on the bottom of his hind foot. The wolf attempts to read it, the mule kills him with a kick in the forehead; and the fox, looking on, remarks that “every man of letters is not wise.” A similar story is told in “Reynard the Fox.” 11. Levesell: an arbour; Anglo-Saxon, “lefe-setl,” leafy seat. 12. Noth: business; German, “Noth,” necessity. 13. Bathe: both; Scottice, “baith.” 14. Capel: horse; Gaelic, “capall;” French, “cheval;” Italian, “cavallo,” from Latin, “caballus.” 15. Make a clerkes beard: cheat a scholar; French, “faire la barbe;” and Boccaccio uses the proverb in the same sense. 16. “Gar” is Scotch for “cause;” some editions read, however, “get us some”. 17. Chalons: blankets, coverlets, made at Chalons in France. 18. Crock: pitcher, cruse; Anglo-Saxon, “crocca;” German, “krug;” hence “crockery.” 19. Dwale: night-shade, Solanum somniferum, given to cause sleep. 20. Burdoun: bass; “burden” of a song. It originally means the drone of a bagpipe; French, “bourdon.” 21. Compline: even-song in the church service; chorus. 22. Ferly: strange. In Scotland, a “ferlie” is an unwonted or remarkable sight. 23. A furlong way: As long as it might take to walk a furlong. 24. Cockenay: a term of contempt, probably borrowed from the kitchen; a cook, in base Latin, being termed “coquinarius.” compare French “coquin,” rascal. 25. Unhardy is unsely: the cowardly is unlucky; “nothing venture, nothing have;” German, “unselig,” unhappy. 26. Holy cross of Bromeholm: A common adjuration at that time; the cross or rood of the priory of Bromholm, in Norfolk, was said to contain part of the real cross and therefore held in high esteem. 27. In manus tuas: Latin, “in your hands”. THE COOK’S TALE. THE PROLOGUE. THE Cook of London, while the Reeve thus spake, For joy he laugh’d and clapp’d him on the back: “Aha!” quoth he, “for Christes passion, This Miller had a sharp conclusion, Upon this argument of herbergage.* *lodging Well saide Solomon in his language, Bring thou not every man into thine house, For harbouring by night is perilous. *Well ought a man avised for to be* *a man should take good heed* Whom that he brought into his privity. I pray to God to give me sorrow and care If ever, since I highte* Hodge of Ware, *was called Heard I a miller better *set a-work*; *handled He had a jape* of malice in the derk. *trick But God forbid that we should stinte* here, *stop And therefore if ye will vouchsafe to hear A tale of me, that am a poore man, I will you tell as well as e’er I can A little jape that fell in our city.”